Design and thermal-energy performance analysis of foam-based floating photovoltaic systems in a cold climate: experimental results from a 7 kW floatovoltaics in Canada

Floating photovoltaics (FPV), or floatovoltaics, offers several synergistic benefits over land-based PV, but has not been investigated for cold climates. This study introduces a 7 kW semi-flexible monocrystalline foam-backed FPV system operating on a pond in the cold climate of Ontario Canada and equipped with an air bubbler system for ice prevention. The system is monitored using an open source data acquisition platform that records meteorological variables, water and module temperatures, electrical output and high resolution imagery in both summer and winter conditions. A comparison of measured FPV temperatures with those simulated by previous models revealed a notable discrepancy during the winter season. A regression model developed in this study indicated that the foam-based FPV system generated 7.7. MWh/year, representing up to 2.7% more energy than other PV models (e.g. Faiman FPV, Kamuyu et al., etc.). The FPV array storm water pond coverage scaled linearly with evaporation reduction, reaching a maximum of 927 m3/year if 50% of the pond is covered, demonstrating the potential for foam-based FPV to save water and support agricultural water needs. In addition, the deployed air-bubbler system successfully maintained ice-free open water throughout the winter season with negligible additional energy consumption, ranging from 0.02% (1.9 kWh) to 14.5% (893 kWh) of the total annual yield. The new methodological approach, detailed in this study, enables FPV operations of any kind in cold climates where ice formation has historically constrained deployment. Finally, the system achieved a positive net present value (∼57,000 $CAD) under a high electricity price scenario ($0.55 CAD/kWh) for off-grid systems, yielding a discounted payback period of 4.2 years. Overall, the results of this study established foam-based FPV as a promising and adaptable platform for renewable energy generation, introduces a transferable ice-melting model for cold-climate operations, and highlights the unique performance dynamics of flat-tilt FPV modules in icy environments. These advances provide a solid foundation for future research at larger scales and across diverse water bodies, thereby positioning FPV as a viable technology for sustainable energy expansion not only in warm climates but also in cold regions.